Timing is everything

Last Saturday morning, I dipped into my reserves of Silhouette sets and stuck one in my right hip, because I would be playing hockey in a few hours and didn’t think a metal Sure-T needle1 would be particularly comfortable. I also stuck a CGM sensor in my left hip because my shoulder pads would have surely abused it on my arm.

So, on Wednesday night, faced with a Low Reservoir alert and an itchy midsection, I decided it was time to change both2. (It’s rare that they both get changed on the same schedule, by the way!)

But on Saturday, I’ll be going to my sister-in-law’s house for her baby-shower/barbecue/pool party, and I’m not particularly keen on having my D-stuff visible when I’m wearing nothing but swim trunks. My sister-in-law is a doctor, as are most of her friends who will be there, so I’m sure many who see it would understand, but I’m still more comfortable keeping them private.

The Sure-T is supposed to stay in for only two days, and my vial of Novolog was nearly empty anyway, so I decided I could stick a Sure-T in my back and it would be gone before the weekend. The insulin left in the vial, along with the 15-or so units left in the old reservoir (which I put back in the vial before sucking it into the new one) was just enough to get me through Friday night. At that point, I could do another set change (again a Silhouette, because I’d be wearing it below the belt and potentially be physically active). On Saturday morning, I’d have just enough time to eat breakfast, pack up the car, and shuttle my kid to hockey practice before hauling to Long Island for the shower/BBQ/swim.

The replacement CGM, though, would last longer than two days so it needs to remain below-the-belt where my bathing attire would hide it. So it went in about an inch away from the old one, not doing a “proper rotation” but keeping it away from the puddle of subcutaneous insulin that may have accumulated on the other side. Maybe I’ll rip that one out on Monday or Tuesday and put the next one in my arm again. Because if I’m playing hockey myself again on the following Sunday (still an “if” at this point), I’ll need to insert a below-the-belt sensor again by then.

It’s not the perfect site-rotation, but it helps to plan ahead. And it’s good to have options.

Yes, schedules are yet another thing that diabetes forces us to manage.

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FOOTNOTES:1Cannula schmannula. Who are we kidding? It’s a frickin’ needle!2 Yeah, I know I shouldn’t change a set before bed. But, seriously, who has the time in the morning?

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